Archive for August, 2013

Low Culture “Screens”

August 31st 2013

Scrappy, melodic garagepunk from Las Cruces, NM. Members of The Marked Men and Shang-A-Lang.

In late 2011, when it was clear that Shang-A-Lang was coming to an end, Chris asked Sam and Cade (of Total Jock) if they wanted to start a new band. Low Culture practiced a few times as a three-piece, but a few weeks later Joe (Marked Men/Shang-A-Lang) moved back to Las Cruces and joined the band. Low Culture’s first show was in early November 2011 was at Shang-A-Lang’s last show and the band’s been moving full steam ahead ever since. With a few short regional trips and a tour of the Northeast and Canada with Iron Chic in support of their debut 7″ under their belt, they’re showing no signs of slowing down. A European tour is in the works for March of 2013 as well as many US dates as their work schedules will allow. Low Culture plays catchy garage punk that while not far removed from some of the member’s previous project, Shang-A-Lang, has a lot less emphasis on riffs and blown out recordings, and more emphasis on melody and crisp (while not necessarily “over-produced”) recordings.

Produced by Mark Ryan (Marked Men/Mind Spiders) in Fort Worth, mastered by Dave Williams (Crusades, Steve Adamyk Band) in Ottawa. This is their debut LP, with the promise of more to come.

Bad Sports – Bras CD/Digital Out Now!

August 27th 2013

Bad Sports – Bras available now on CD/digital!

Vinyl will go on sale a week from today, around noon PST.

Mean Jeans/Big Eyes “split”

August 26th 2013

Fresh off a joint West Coast tour, 2 of our favorite bands proceed to team up for a split 7″. We probably should have put this out BEFORE the tour, but whatever. 1 new original song from each band, plus they cover each cover a song from the other as well. We’re psyched to finally be releasing something from Big Eyes, and we’ve released many things from Mean Jeans, with more on the way in 2013! If I know both of these bands, look for much touring in the near future!

All copies come with download coupon. RED VINYL OUT OF PRINT, BLACK STILL AVAILABLE.

Legendary Wings “Making Paper Roses”

August 24th 2013

It happens very rarely (like a couple of times over the course of 120 releases) that we here at Dirtnap get a random CD-R demo in the mail, pop it in, listen to it a couple of times, and then slap our fist down on the counter and say “fuck it, we’ll put that out!” And that’s just what happened in the case of Kalamazoo, MI’s Legendary Wings. Unsolicited demos are largely a lousy way to round up new bands for the label, but once in a blue moon you get one that’s just THAT good.

Musically, the apple that is Legendary Wings doesn’t fall TOO far from the tree that is Dirtnap Records, (think caffeiniated, raw, fast pop), but they are also unmistakably, instantly identifiable as originating from the Midwest. Potential Johns meets Gaunt? Scared Of Chaka if they were from Minneapolis? Denton with jangle?

Orange vinyl out of print, black still available. All copies come with download coupon.

White Wires “WW3”

August 22nd 2013

Here it is, the 3rd album from Ottawa Ontario’s White Wires, and it’s their best one yet! We’re not just saying that, either! Confident, heart-felt, refreshingly irony-free pop that’s just about the catchiest thing you’ve ever heard. This is a rock solid album that really hits a stride as it goes along. One thing we’ve always admired about this band is how each of their albums are very distinct from one another, but are unmistakably, undeniably The White Wires.The first record was the “garage” album, the 2nd was the “punk” album, this one is the pop masterpiece. Get ready.